Metal blind



1941- c. w. RYERSON Q I METAL BLIND v Filed Dec. 25, 1939 2 Shets-Shet 1 I Qiwwwto o EREJqHTU/v WFYEHEUN Jan. 21, c RYERSON' 2,229,190

METAL BLIND 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 23, 1939 Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 13 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in awnings and blinds with the principles of the invention having equal application to both inside and outside awnings and blinds.

b Awnings of the type to which the present invention relate usually consist of a plurality of awning units which are suspended in a common vertical plane from one another or from a common supporting structure. At the ends or adjacent thereto means are provided for guiding the awning units for up or down movement in a common vertical plane as it is desirable that the awning units are capable of being raised or lowered. Heretofore fairly complicated and expensive arrangements have been found necessary in order to bring about nest of the awning units when raised. The novelty of the present invention resides in the simple and eifective structure employed for bracing the awning units in an inclined position and permitting nesting of the units when the awning is raised.

Thus one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simplified and inexpensive awning of the type described.

Another object of the invention is to provide an awning comprising a series of nesting units which are braced and spaced through resilient elements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a metal awning comprising a plurality of awning units supported at opposite ends and along one edge for vertical movement upon guide members while being supported from one another and held in an angular position through spring elements.

A further object is to provide a metal awning of the type described having a plurality of awning units nesting one into another and having as their sole supporting and annular positioning means a plurality of pre-shaped spring elements.

A still further object resides in providing an improved awning of the type described in which spring tension assisting the lowering of the awning units is built up when the awning units are raised.

These and other objects and advantages residing in the specific construction, combination and arrangement of parts will more clearly appear from a consideration of the detailed specification to follow and found in the annexed claims.

- In the accompanying drawings wherein one form of the invention is illustrated,

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved awning,

Fig. 2 is a broken view of the awning of Fig. 1

55 as viewed from the back,

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of the awning as viewed from the front,

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken through one of the awning units,

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View of the spring connection,

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View showing the connection between the awning unit and the rod.

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View of the spring construction.

Referring to the drawings vertical guide rods It and I2 pass through holes I4 located adjacent the inner edge I6 at opposite ends of the awning unit I8 function to guide the unit for up and down vertical movement in a common plane. Rubber grommets I9 fitted in the holes I4 prevent rattle or noisy vibration of the awning units I8. The units 93 as shown are of sheet metal construction and are preferably of rolled sheet aluminum in order to be very light. The longitudinal edges of the units I8 are rolled to stiffen and finish the edges.

To support the awning units I8 one from the other and to provide the desired angularity, heat treated preformed springs are provided at opposite ends of each awning unit. As more clearly shown in Figs. 4 and '7 the springs 20 comprise a return bent portion 22 threaded through slits 24 in the awning unit I8 along the outer edge 25 thereof. The loop portion 28 of the spring 29] snugly embraces the edge 25. The spring 20 has a central arcuate portion 38 terminating in a return bent portion 32 which at the time of assembly is thrust through an enlarged opening 34 adjacent the inner edge I6 of the awning unit is and then snapped upon the bead of the edge It. Through this arrangement the outer edge 26 of each awning unit I8 is connected to the inner edge It of the lower awning unit I8 and the springs 20 function to both support and space the awning unit I8 and to define the angularity of the same relative to the vertical plane in which the awning units I8 are moved up and down.

In order to raise the awning units I8 into a nested position, flexible cords 35 or other suitable connectors are secured to the lowermost awning unit at 38, passed up through suitable guide holes 450, around pulleys (not shown) and downwardly to a point where the cords may be conveniently operated. As more clearly shown in Fig. 4 as the lowermost awning unit is drawn upwardly the springs 20 of the remaining units will be gradually extended and will tend to be straightened out to take care of the increased distance between the ends of the springs with the awning units down and when the awning units are in nested position. In Fig. 4 the dotted lines represent the raised nested position of the awning units l8 in which position the springs 20 are shown urged into a stressed S-shape with portions thereof engaging with the upper and under sides of adjacent awning units. The more the awning units are urged upwardly into a tightly nested position, the greater the stress is upon the springs 20. When it is desired to lower the awning units into their extended position, the stored up energy in each of the springs 20 will tend to project the awning units downwardly overcoming any tendency for the units to stick or be wedged in an upper nested position. It will be obvious that if the same construction of springs 20 is used throughout that the upper springs will have to carry a greater load than the lower springs with the result that there will be a tendency for the upper springs to sag downwardly more than the lower springs under the Weight of the awning units. This is not objectionable for the reason that the construction is such as to enable it to be manufactured from a very light metal and in practice the space between adjacent awning units is found to be substantially the same.

The construction and function of the springs 20 in combination with the awning units l8 constitute the essence of the present invention. In practice the springs 2!] are fabricated from flat strip spring metal stock, preformed into the shape shown in Fig. '7, and then heat treated. The loop 28 has a narrow throat at 44 which is sprung open when the loop 28 is rigidly snapped upon the rolled bead of the edge 26. As the portion 22 is firmly connected to the awning unit M3 by being interwoven therewith through the slits 24, the spring 20 in efiect becomes a cantilever beam capable of supporting the adjacent lower awning unit [8 and those connected thereto. The springs 29', by supporting adjacent awning units, also function to space the units. Further, it is contemplated that in lieu of anchoring the inner end of the springs 20 to the adjacent lower awning unit, that the springs have a running loop connection with the guide rod as in the case of the lowermost awning unit of Fig. 1 wherein the lower braces 42 has loop portions 44 embracing the guide rods H2 and I2. It is much more practical, however, to use the lower adjacent awning unit as a slidable anchoring for the inner end of the arcuate springs. It is my intention, however, to broadly claim a curvilinear spring acting as a brace and having a slidable connection with the guide member characterized by its ability to shorten and lengthen to take care of the nesting of the awning units.

Having described my invention, what I desire to protect by Letters Patent and claim is:

1. An awning comprising a plurality of elongated angularly disposed awning units, means for supporting and guiding said units for up and down movement in a common plane, a sliding connection between the inner edges of said units and said means, and resilient elements connected between adjacent units for supporting the same in spaced relation to one another.

2. An awning of the class described comprising a pair of inclined awning units located one above the other and having movement along a common path, means along which said units are slidable, and a spring connected between said units to support the lower unit from the upper unit.

3. An awning of the class described comprising upper and lower awning units, a guide element for guiding said lower unit into a nested position with said upper unit, and a spring connected between said units which is extended and contracted as said lower unit is moved into and out of nested relation.

4. An awning of the class described comprising upper and lower awning units, guide means for said units for guiding said lower unit from a down position into an upper nested position with said upper unit, and a spring element connected at one end to said upper unit outwardly from said guide means to control the angularity of said upper unit and to said lower unit at the other end as a point of anchorage.

5. An awning of the class described comprising upper and lower awning units adapted to be moved along a common path from an extended lower position into a nested raised position, said unit being horizontally disposed and elongated in shape with upper inner edgesand outer lower edges, vertical members to which said units are connected adjacent said upper inner edges, laterally spaced spring elements connected to said upper unit adjacent said lower outer edge and to said lower unit adjacent said upper inner edge to angularly support said upper unit, said spring elements being of a design enabling the distance between their points of anchorage with said unit to vary when said lower unit is urged into a nested position with said upper unit.

6. An awning as defined in claim 5 wherein said spring elements take the form of preformed arcuate spring metal strips.

7. An awning as defined in claim 5 wherein said spring elements support said lower unit in spaced relation from said upper unit.

8. An awning as defined in claim 5 wherein said spring elements have a rigid connection with one of said units at one end and pivotal connec tion with the other of said unit at the other end.

9. An awning of the class described comprising an upper awning member, a lower awning member, a guide to which said members are connected for up and down movement, and an arcuate spring strip connected between said members as a brace.

10. In an awning of the class described having a plurality of angularly disposed awning members nesting one within the other when raised, and a brace in the form of a resilient member of preformed arcuate shape.

11. In an awning of the class described, the

combination with a guide member, of an awning unit connected along one edge to said member, and a brace in the form of an arcuate spring connected to said unit to angularly position the same relative to said member.

12. In an awning of the class described, the combination with a guide member, of an awning slidable along said member, a spring of curvilinear shape connected at one end of said unit as a brace and having a slidable anchorage at the other end with said member, said spring extending and contracting upon relative movement between said unit and said anchorage.

13. In an awning of the type described, a plurality of awning units movable toward and from one another, spring elements positioned between said units to limit said movement, said elements being so shaped and located as to be tensioned with said units in a nested position.

CREIGHTON W. RYERSON. 

